Cory Booker Adds Iowa Endorsements After LJ, Local Elections

Sen. Cory Booker’s focus on helping down-ballot Democrats has certainly not gone unnoticed in Iowa, and a new round of endorsements out today for Booker come in part from newly-elected Iowans.

Courtney Clarke, the mayor-elect of Waukee, and two city councilmember-elects from Urbandale and Ankeny top a new group of ten caucus-goers backing Booker.

“Cory Booker has the unique ability to guide our nation forward through this tumultuous time,” said Bridget Carberry Montgomery, Urbandale City Councilmember-Elect. “His contagious positivity is desperately needed to heal our divisions. He leads with love and will fight tirelessly for justice.”

In the lead-up to Iowa’s Tuesday municipal and school board elections, Booker endorsed many Democrats running for local offices around the state. The former Newark, New Jersey mayor personally called several local candidates to boost their spirits last week, and his Iowa campaign team spent significant time knocking on doors for the local races (several other presidential campaigns did as well).

“I am proud to support Cory Booker because he cares about Democrats up and down the ticket, and if he is the nominee, he will be able to help elect Democrats all across the country,” said Jeff Perry, Ankeny City Councilmember-Elect.

Booker is also picking up a former Beto O’Rourke supporter, Joe Gorton, the Iowa chapter leader of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. It’ll be noteworthy to see where O’Rourke’s former backers flow following the candidate’s withdrawal from the race. Another past O’Rourke supporter, former Iowa Deputy Treasurer Joan Bolin Betts, was just named as Michael Bennet’s Central Iowa Steering Committee chair.

“I know that he’ll use his incredible skills as a leader to pass the gun safety reform we so desperately need when he’s in the White House,” Gorton said.

The new round of supporters come after Booker delivered one of the most passionate speeches of the Liberty and Justice Dinner one week ago, albeit to a smaller crowd late into the evening. But most reviews of his performance were very positive, and Booker faces some new opportunity in Iowa as Joe Biden continues to decline in most polling.

There may soon be a chance for someone like Booker or Amy Klobuchar to move up and impress enough to wedge their way into more attention and a top-four finish on caucus night.